George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Fielding Lewis, Jr., 13 September 1769

From Fielding Lewis, Jr.

September 13th 1769

Dear Uncle

Inclos’d you have an Order on Mr Robart Alexander for the Ballance remaining in his Hands of my Wifes Fortune which I shall be Oblig’d to you to receive for me, and purchase Slaves to the amount thereof, I shall chuse to have Strong likely Young Negro Men if they cost the more, as those which I have allready bought are but indifferent Hands, the sooner the Money is disposed off the better, as I shall go to live in Frederick this Fall and shall want the Negro’s,1 I am your most Affectionate Humble Sarvant

Fielding Lewis Junr

ALS, DLC:GW.

Fielding Lewis, Jr. (1751–1803), the son of GW’s sister Betty, was at this time living in Fairfax County with his bride Ann (Nancy) Alexander, daughter of Garrard Alexander (d. 1761) of Alexandria. Fielding Lewis, Sr., had land in Frederick County, and young Fielding moved there, where matters went from bad to worse for the young couple (see Fielding Lewis, Sr., to GW, 16 Sept., n.3).

1Robert Alexander (d. 1793) of Alexandria was the brother of Fielding Lewis, Jr.’s wife Nancy. Lewis’s enclosure has not been found, but Alexander wrote GW on 27 Oct. 1769: “I have examined the Books and find a ballance of about two hundred pounds Cury due from us to Mr Fielding Lewis on Acct of his Wife’s Fortune, which please to pay to Mr Lewis, or otherwise, dispose of it (according to his order), in the purchase of Negroes—or any other manner, as you shall think most proper, and the first time I see you will give you a receipt for the said Sum in the interim” (DLC:GW).

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